GENEVA, Ohio – The Fresno Pacific women's water polo team fell to the nationally ranked, one-seeded UC San Diego Tritons 15-4 in the WWPA Championships title game to take second overall in the conference. It is the highest conference finish for the Sunbirds in program history and ends a successful late-season run that saw the 'Birds post a 7-2 record to close the year.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #2 Fresno Pacific 4, #1 UC San Diego 15
Box Score – WWPA Championships Title Game
Location: Geneva, Ohio | SPIRE Institute
Series: FPU trails 0-6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Tritons opened the scoring, putting up three goals before FPU's Savannah Mangrum punched two of her own through to bring the tally to 3-2.
• UCSD proceeded to go on an 11-0 run, shutting the Sunbirds out of the cage through the second and third periods.
• A goal from Jenna Collins and a third from Mangrum put FPU on the board again in the fourth, but the high-powered UCSD offense proved too much for the Blue and Orange. Final: 15-4.
 
STATS:
• Mangrum recorded a hat trick and a steal, Katie Kisling and Sam Witt added one assist apiece and Madeline Frey picked up five saves in the loss.
• FPU held the Tritons to 1-8 on power plays while converting on one of their seven opportunities.
• The Tritons posted a .500 shooting percentage while holding the Sunbirds to .154.
• UCSD received a pair of hat tricks from Ciara Franke and Taylor Onstott, while goaltender and tournament MVP Reilly Gallagher picked up 11 saves.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Three Sunbirds were named to the WWPA All-Tournament Teams:
Sam Witt (first team) – totaled nine points on four goals and five assists during WWPA Championships play. Also swiped four steals and drew three exclusions.
Savannah Mangrum (first team) - her balanced contributions during the conference tournament included five goals, five steals, a field block and a 2-for-3 sprint record.
Madeline Frey (second team) - led the Sunbird defense with 30 saves, highlighted by a 13-save effort (career high) in the Sunbirds' victory over Cal State East Bay in the semifinals.
• The second-place WWPA conference finish is FPU's highest post-season mark in program history. The Sunbirds, who graduate four seniors this season, look to continue to be contenders going forward.
• It was the seventh year in a row that UC San Diego clinched the conference title. Ranked #14 nationally, the Tritons amassed a total of 55 goals over the course of WWPA Championship play.
 
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